Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a high-level meeting on August 27 (Wednesday) to discuss the growing number of polio cases across the country and to determine an effective strategy for the upcoming national campaign in September.
The meeting would look to finalise a coordinated response to ensure the success of the next phase of the anti-polio campaign, which is scheduled to begin on September 1 and cover 99 districts nationwide.
The prime minister has expressed serious concern over the recent confirmation of the poliovirus in sewage samples from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Diamer and South Waziristan. In contrast, samples from Islamabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Khanewal and Kotli tested negative for the virus, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre.
Authorities confirmed that the positive environmental samples in the four affected districts contained wild poliovirus type 1.
The premier has directed that vaccination of children must be ensured at all costs. He has called for a detailed report from all provinces outlining their coordinated strategies and measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
PM Shehbaz has reaffirmed his resolve to tolerate no negligence in the national polio eradication campaign. He underlined the necessity of joint efforts at both federal and provincial levels to combat the resurgence of the virus.
The chief ministers and chief secretaries of all four provinces have been summoned to attend the forthcoming meeting. Officials would also brief the prime minister on steps taken to digitise polio-related data and to strengthen monitoring and surveillance.
In the previous month, environmental samples from ten districts were sent to the National Institute of Health for testing as part of routine monitoring procedures.
